Catalonia’s secessionist leader Carles Puigdemont stood defiant on Saturday against Madrid’s moves to depose him, urging “democratic resistance” to direct rule imposed in a bid to stop the region breaking away from Spain.
In a televised statement, Mr Puigdemont accused the central government of trampling on the will of independence-seeking Catalans who rejoiced at Friday’s vote by regional lawmakers to declare an independent republic.
Madrid’s response to seize Catalan powers — the first curtailment of regional autonomy since Francisco Franco’s brutal 1939-75 dictatorship — constituted an “aggression”, he said, but insisted “democratic opposition” was the only response. In a copy of his speech, Mr Puigdemont signed off as “President of the Catalan government”.
